Cover feeding apparatus

Abstract

Method and apparatus for selectively supplying and placing a generally planar cover of selected peripheral configuration over a cooperative opening for container while the container is in motion where the opening is surrounded by an outwardly directed generally horizontal cover receiving first flange means where the first flange has an upwardly extending peripheral second flange adapted to fully receive the cover within the second flange so the opening to the container is surrounded by the first flange which is adapted to receive and support the cover around the peripheral edges of the cover within the second flange including: conveyor means to move the container along a selected axis at a relatively constant first velocity with the opening upwardly directed; cover supply means to supply a cover to engage the first flange and in a direction generally parallel to the direction of travel of the container from a location above the moving container so the cover is received on the first flange means within the second flange means; cover feed means to receive the cover from the cover supply means and feed the cover onto the first flange means of the container means at a selected second velocity where the velocity component of the cover in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the container is in excess of the first velocity so the cover means engages the first flange and moves over the first flange in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the container until the leading edge of the cover engages the front peripheral second flange and the cover is fully received within the second flange. Means can also be provided to bend a portion of the leading edge of the second flange over the cover.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for supplying and locating a generally planar cover of selected peripheral configuration over a cooperative opening of similar configuraton of a moving container where the opening is surrounded by an outwardly directed generally horizontal cover receiving first flange where the first flange has an upwardly extending second flange so the cover is received on the first flange and within the second flange including: (a) conveyor means to move said container along a selected first axis at selected first velocity with the opening directed upwardly;   (b) cover supply means to supply a cover to engage the first flange in a direction generally parallel to the direction of travel of the container from a location above the container;   (c) cover feed means to receive the cover from the cover supply means and feed the cover onto the first flange means along a second axis at an acute angle relative to the first axis at a selected second velocity where the velocity component of the cover, in a direction parallel to the first axis, is in excess of the first velocity so the cover means engages the first flange and moves along the first flange until the leading edge of the cover engages the front of the second flange and then feeds the balance of the cover to be fully received within the second flange.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said container conveyor means is adapted to receive said container means in cooperative frame means to move said container in a generally horizontal direction, said cover supply means is adapted to sequentially feed said covers to said containers on said conveyor means at intervals determined by the speed of said conveyor means at an acute angle in the direction of travel of the container wherein the cover feed means includes cooperative nip roller means rotated at selected speed to receive said cover means and to direct said cover to receive said first flange means of said container on opposite sides of said container opening means to move thereon at a speed in excess of the speed of the container between opposite sides of the second flange means so the leading edge of the cover moves along the second flanges to engage the front portion of the second flange where because of the speed of the cover feed, the cover bends downwardly toward the second flange and upon release of said cover from said nip roller means said cover is fully received within said second flange means. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 including bending a portion of the front edge of said second flange inwardly over said cover after said cover has engaged said front portion of said second flange and prior to release of said cover from said nip roller means. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said crimping means includes disc means mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis wherein the periphery of the disc rotates in the direction of movement of the tray and engages the front edge of said second flange to bend said second flange over said cover when said cover is located on the first flange at the front of said container including: rotating said disc at a speed where the peripheral velocity of the disc is less than the speed of the container when the disc is in contact with the front edge of the second flange and increasing the speed of rotation of the disc during a portion of the period while the disc is in contact with the cover then slowing the speed of rotation of the disc during a portion of the time in which the disc is in contact with said cover. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for feeding and placing a cover on an opening to a container where the container opening is surrounded by a generally outwardly extending cover receiving flange means and the first flange is surrounded by an upwardly extending second flange means including: (a) conveyor means to move said container in a selected direction along a first axis at first velocity;   (b) cover supply means to supply individual covers to be placed on said container opening;   cover feed means located above said conveyor means to receive covers from said cover supply means and feed said covers at an acute angle relative to, and in the direction of, travel of said containers so the front edge of said cover engages the first flange of container moving on said conveyor means where the cover is fed at a second velocity so that the component of the second velocity in the direction of travel of the container is greater than the first velocity so the cover moves on the first flange to engagement with the front edge of the second flange; and   (d) means to place the rear edge of the cover within the rear portion of the second flange so the cover is completely received within the second flange and rests on the first flange.   
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said cover supply means includes separator means to remove single covers from a storage means, conveyor means moved at preselected speed to receive single covers from said separator means and transfer said covers to said cover feed means at selected intervals. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 5 including crimping means to bend a portion of the front second flange over the cover means when the front edge of the cover means is in contact with the front second flange and before the rear edge of the cover is received within the second flange. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said crimping means includes disc means mounted forward of said feed means for rotation about a horizontal axis as the lower portion of the periphery of said disc means moves in the same direction as the direction of movement of said container and contacts the front portion of said second flange of said container as said container moves along said conveyor to bend a portion of the front of said second flange over said cover; and crimping means at selected speed. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said disc means has a gap in the periphery thereof and said crimping means drive means rotates said disc at selected speed so that said disc bends a portion of the front edge of said second flange over said cover and said disc is rotated at speed so said rear portion of said second flange is received in said gap means as the rear of said container means passes said disc means to secure the rear portion of the second flange to the cover.